Method of handling materials



Jan. 1963 R. PRIES ETAL METHOD oF HANDLING MATERIALS Original Filed July3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 b w OD S Tms Ns N R En ESO HN VEO Pm WMM Ev Nnmd n Mm M EB mmm M0 ON Nm wm n O1 a f, OO- mm mw O wm .vm wm Jan. l,1963 R. PRH-:s ETAL METHOD 0F HANDLING MATERIALS original Filed July s,195s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nm Om 1z\1v1s1\1'roRS RINEHARD PRIES AND HUBERT J.MOORS OLSEN Ann STEPHENSON Arronuzvs @ite ranges Patented Jan. l, 19533,071,266 ME'EHD 0F HANDLING MATEREALS Rinehard Fries and Hubert J.Moors, Fraser, Mich., as-

signors to The Gene Olsen Corporation, Adrian, Mich., a corporation ofMichigan @riginal application .lilly 3, 1958, Ser. No. 746,473, nowPatent No. 2,917,191, dated Dec. 15, 1959. Divided and this applicationAug. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 832,852 1 Claim. (Cl. 214-152) The presentinvention relates to a method of unloading bulding blocks frommulti-deck racks during one of the stages of manufacture of the blocks.This is a division of pending application, Serial No. 746,473, filedJuly 3, 1958.

In the manufacture of building blocks, the green blocks are initiallyformed in molds and are subsequently heated in order to harden or curethem. The molding of the blocks is generally accomplished continuouslyand automatically in molding machines. The green blocks are transferredfrom the molding machine on pallets which are carried on a conveyor. Thelatter carries the loaded pallets to a station where the loaded palletsare placed on multi-deck racks for transfer to autoclaves where thecuring operation is performed.

Since this is a continuous operation, it is necessary that the maximumnumber of blocks be accommodated in the autoclave d-uring each curingoperation, and for this reason the decks of the racks are spaced asclose together as is possible. As soon as the curing operation iscompleted the loaded racks are removed from the autoclave, and it isthen desirable to remove the blocks from the racks and pallets so thatsuch racks and pallets can be returned to the molding machine forfurther use. Prolonged storing of the cured blocks in the racks isuneconomical, because of the cost involved and the space required forkeeping enough racks on hand to allow the continuous operation of themolding equipment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method ofunloading building blocks from multi-deck racks wherein the steps ofoperation are characterized by their simplicity and speed of operationas well as their eciency in handling the blocks.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevation illustrating apparatus for carrying out thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatusillustrated in FIGURE l.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of being carriedout by other apparatus and of being practiced or carried out in variousways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminolo-gyemployed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawings, a more detailed description of apparatusfor carrying out the present invention will be given. The blocktransferring apparatus includes an elevator 12 which raises and lowersthe receiving conveyor 14. The latter is supported by the chains 16which are attached at their opposite ends to the receiving conveyor 14and the counter-weight 18. An elevator motor 2d is drivingly connected,through a suitable synchronizing gear 22, to the shafts 24 on which thesprocket wheels 26 are mounted. Thus, when the motor 20 is turned theshafts 24 will be turned, and through pulley wheels 26 and chains 16,the receiving conveyor 14 will be raised or lowered, depending on thedirection of rotation of motor 2l). A

The framework for the elevator 12' includes the stationary verticalbeams 28 at one end and the stationary vertical beams 30 at the otherend of the elevator 12. Tracks, not shown, are formed on the inner sidesof these beams on which the receiving conveyor 14 is adapted to ride.

Mounted on one end of the receiving conveyor 14 is a rigid plate 32which is open in its central portion for the passage of blockstherethrough and which overlies the vertical beams 30. Connected to theplate 32 is a block unloader mechanism 34 which includes the parallelcantilever beams 36 rigidly secured to plate 32 and the block pushermechanism 38 suspended from the free end of cantilever beam 36. Theblock pusher mechanism 38 has a plurality of rigid frame members 40, anda shaft 42 is journaled under the beams 36 with the arms 44 and 46connected thereto for turning therewith. A hydraulic piston and cylinder48 is connected at its one end to the free end of arm 44 and at itsother end to the stationary bracket 5o. Thus, expansion of the hydraulicpiston and cylinder 48 will cause shaft 42 to rotate in a clockwisedirection as seen in FIGURE l, and retraction of the hydraulic pistonand cylinder 48 will cause shaft 42 to rotate in a counter-clockwisedirection. The arms 46 which are connected to shaft 42 are therebyturned in the same clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The freeends of arms 46 are operatively connected to the block pushers 52 formoving the latter horizontally toward and from the elevator 12 for apurpose to be more fully described.

Referring to FIGURE 3, a brief description will be given of the mannerin which the arms 46 and the block pushers 52 are operatively connected.A carrier 54 has wheels 56 at its four corners which are adapted totravel in tracks 58 in the inner side of lower frame members 4t). Links6d are pivotally connected respectively at one end to the carrier 54 bythe pins 62 and at the other end to the arms 46 by the pins 64. Thus,the links 60 will accommodate the vertical component of movement of arms46 while the horizontal component of movement will be transmitted to thecarrier 54. Since the carrier 54 has the block pushers 52 rigidlyattached thereto, the horizontal movements will be transmitted to suchblock pushers 52. ln this manner, actuation of hydraulic piston andcylinder 48 will effect horizontal movement of block pushers 52.

Positioned between the receiving conveyor 14 and the block pushermechanism 38 is a rack loading and unloading conveyor 64 which has rails66 and 68 on which a multi-deck rack 7l? can travel. A rack actuatingbar 72, FIGURE 2, is positioned at one end of conveyor 64 and is-movable by means of the hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly 74. Theend of conveyor 64 at which piston and cylinder assembly 74 is locatedis the station on which a fully loaded rack "itl will be placed.Actuation of the bar '72 will move the rack 70 to the position shown inFIGURE l between the receiving conveyor 14 and the block pushermechanism 38. Here the blocks will be removed from the rack 70, in amanner to be described, and then the empty rack will be pushed to theother end of conveyor 64 for removal.

The racks used for this operation are of a conventional type having aframework adapted to support thevblocks on pallets at six deck levels.The spacing between decks is kept at a minimum so that the maximumnumber of blocks can be carried in a given volume within the racks.

As was previously stated, the blocks on the multi-deck rack 70 aresupported thereon by pallets, and it is desired to leave the emptypallets in place on the rack 7) when the blocks are being unloaded. Forthis purpose, a reciprocable pallet stopper 73 is provided in horizontalalignment with the pallet (not shown) which is located on the deck inalignment with the receiving conveyor 14. A hydraulic piston andcylinder assembly 73a is mounted on the receiving conveyor 14 and bysuitable linkages 73]] is connected to the pallet stopper 73 so as tocause reciprocable movement thereof on expansion and contraction ofpiston and cylinder assembly 73a. The piston and cylinder assembly 73ais in a hydraulic circuit, to be described, which includes the pistonand cylinder assembly 43 so that the block pusher 52 and the palletstopper 73 will be advanced substantially simultaneously. The palletstopper 73 will engage the pallet (not shown) and the block pusher 52will engage the block thereon pushing the same onto the receivingconveyor 14. The pallet stopper 73 and the block pusher 52 will then bereturned substantially simultaneously to the normal positions.

`Positioned at the remote end of the receiving conveyor 14 from theblock pusher mechanism 38 is a cubing table 75 which has a rollerconveyor 76 on its upper surface. The cubing table 7:7 is adapted toreceive an entire rack of blocks from the receiving conveyor 14. Theblocks are normally transferred from the receiving conveyor 14 to thecubing table 75 when the unloading conveyor 14 is at the bottom of itsvertical travel.

This transferring operation is carried out by means of a sweep bar 78carried on a pair of endless chains St) which extend lengthwise onopposite sides of the receiving conveyor 14. The chains Sti extendaround the wheels S2 which are supported by brackets 84 on a shaft atthe one end of the receiving conveyor 14. At the other end of receivingconveyor 14 the chains Sti pass around the two sets of pulley wheels 86which are supported by brackets (not shown) mounted on the receivingconveyor 14. A sweep motor 88 is drivingly connected to the chains S)for turning the chains 80 at selected times around the pulley wheels 82and S6, thereby moving the sweep bar 78 outside the right end of theblocks Slt?, FIGURE l, and thereafter moving the sweep bar to the leftto sweep all blocks 90 oif the receiving elevator 14 onto the cubingtable 75. This sweep operation will be performed when the receivingconveyor 14 is level with the cubing table 75. The sweep bar 78 willthen return to its normal position shown in FIGURE l.

After the blocks have been positioned on the cubing table 75 they can beremoved by various means, one of which is illustrated in FIGURE 1. Herea cubing hoist 92 is transversely movable on a cross track 94, and thelatter is supported on wheels 96 on the tracks 98 for movement away fromcubing table 75. The cubing hoist 92 is of a conventional design havinga hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly G for lifting blocks from thecubing table 75 and transporting them to a storage place. The cubinghoist 92 is illustrated in FIGURE l after having lifted six blocks fromthe cubing table 75 and after having been turned ninety degrees so thatthe ends of the blocks are visible.

Located on .the top of the elevator 12 is an electric motor 102 fordriving the hydraulic pump 104. There are two outlets from the pump 104,one being shown at 106 which is connected by suitable conduits (notshown) to the piston and cylinder assemblies 48 and 73a so that theseunits will be actuated simultaneously, as was previously described.The'other of the outlets, identied by reference number 16d is connectedby a suitable conduit (not shown) to the piston and cylinder assembly 74for moving the multi-deck racks 75l on the conveyor 64.

Thus, it can be seen that all the movable parts of the present inventioncan be actuated by electrical or hydraulic means. lf desired thecomplete cycle of operation can be carried out by selecting proper pushbuttons on an instrument panel (not shown) or the cycle can be completedby automatic operation wherein limit switches are employed. For thispurpose limit switches 110 and 112 are mounted on the frame members 40to be engaged by one of the arms 46 at the ends of its normal path ofmovement. Limit switch 112 is in an electric circuit which will causepiston and cylinder assemblies 48 and '73a to retract therebywithdrawing the pallet stopper 73 and block pusher 52 to their normalstarting positions. Lirnit switch 110 is in an electric circuitincluding electric motor 20 so that when limit switch 110 is closed bythe return of arm 46, the electric motor 20 will be energized loweringthe receiving conveyor 14 to the next lower deck level of the multideckrack 70. The electric motor 20 is stopped by means of a limit switch 114mounted on the one stationary vertical beam 30 and adapted to becontacted in sequence by each of the cams on the limit switch cams 116mounted on the plate 32 for vertical movement therewith. The limitswitch 114 is in an electric circuit with the electric motor 20 whichcircuit is normally closed but which is opened when one of the camscontacts limit switch 114, such circuit then remaining open until closedagain by actuation of limit switch 110 by arm 46. Thus, once theoperation of the block pusher 52 has been started in unloading blocksfrom the top deck of the multi-deck rack 7G, each of the next succeedingdecks will be unloaded in sequence until the lowermost deck has beenunloaded.

When the receiving conveyor 14 is at its lowermost level the limitswitch 118, positioned on beam 3), will have been contacted by theuppermost of cams 116, thereby setting up a circuit with sweep motor 83but such circuit will remain open until closed by action of limit switch110 on the return stroke of arm 46. The limit switch 118 also serves toopen the circuit to elevator motor 253 to prevent overrun of thereceiving conveyor on the down travel.

At this phase of the cycle, closing of the limit switch 19 will close acircuit including the sweep motor 88 thereby causing the sweep bar '78to be advanced over and behind the blocks on the receiving conveyor 14and to sweep the length of receiving conveyor 14 transferring the blockson to the cubing table 74. The sweep bar 78 will then engage the limitswitch 126 opening the forward sweep circuit to the electric sweep motor83 and starting the return sweep circuit of the sweep motor 88, andsimultaneously closing a circuit to the elevator motor 20, causing thereceiving table 14 to be raised to its uppermost position.

When the sweep bar has returned and contacted the limit switch 122, thelatter will open the circuit to the swee motor 88, thereby stopping thesame. The switch 122 is also in a circuit where it will act with limitswitch 124, on the beam 30, for starting a new cycle of operation. Inthis respect, limit switch 124 will be contacted by the lowermost of thelimit switch cams 116 when the receiving conveyor 14 reaches itsuppermost position. This will have the etect of opening the circuit tothe elevator motor 20 which served to raise the receiving conveyor 14and sets up the aforesaid circuit with the sweep return limit switch 122for starting a new cycle. This circuit also includes a limit switch 126on the rail 63 of the rack conveyor 64 which is normally open and whichwill close after the unloaded rack 7) has been moved from between thereceiving conveyor 14 and the bloclt pusher mechanism 38 and a loadedrack has been pushed in place thereof by the actuator bar 72.

Thus, it can be seen that a complete cycle can be performedautomatically of moving a loaded rack to a position between thereceiving conveyor 14 and the block pusher mechanism 38, pushing theblocks from each deck in sequence on to the receiving conveyor 14, whenthe last deck has been unloaded sweeping the blocks from the receivingconveyor 14 on to the cubing table 75 returning the sweep bar 78 to itsstarting position While the receiving conveyor 14 is being raised to itsuppermost position, replacing the unloaded rack 70 with a fully loadedrack 70, and thereafter repeating the entire cycle.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

A method of unloading multi-deck racks which are carrying palletizedarticles on said decks, comprising the steps of elevating a generallyhorizontal conveyor to a position so that it has its one end adjacentto, facing and generally level with one of the uppermost or lowermostdecks of a multi-deck rack and holding the pallet thereon while pushingthe articles from such deck onto said conveyor, moving said conveyortoward the other of said uppermost or lowermost decks stopping insequence at each of the intermediate decks with said one end beingpositioned adjacent to and facing,r each of said intermediate decks andWhile the conveyor is level Wlth each deck and the pallet thereon isbeing held pushing the articles thereon onto said conveyor therebypushing against and displacing such articles that are thereon andeffecting an alignment of the articles on the conveyor, maintaining saidconveyor at a preselected level and moving the aligned articles to areceiving station, thereafter returning said conveyor to its originalposition, positioning a second multi-deck rack in place of the unloadedmultideck rack, and repeating the cycle.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,876,171 Rosener Sept. 6, 1932 2,636,625 Pries Apr. 28, 1953 2,661,100Ashford Dec. 1, 1953 2,718,972 Temple Sept. 27, 1955 2,799,381 BeckleyJuly 16, 1957

